Telling our story. Yes!....I'll remember that: Speaking of that, a few of workers us got together in So. Cal. three years ago and began organizing our Santa Monica, LA, San Bernardino Community offices of the Community Mental Health Center, Step Up....we lost the first time--and won the second vote on management irregularities. We're part of SEIU721, now! And we're bargaining on our first contract as we speak....
Couldn't agree more! When I was at POWER and we led the work to pass the minimum wage ballot measure in 2014, we took moments (some long, some short) to celebrate in almost every gathering of members/potential members we had for at least the next 12 months. We made paper "checks" that listed the total economic value of the ballot win for airport workers, and gave them out to our members who worked on the campaign.
In addition to all of your points, over my career I've learned celebrating is important for the following reasons:
--Organizations who are viewed as “winners” are more magnetizing (people, money, media attention), and celebrating conveys that message.
--We’re emotional beings and the feelings that come from celebration are obviously positive. If members are associating those feelings with the experience of belonging to our organization it might increase their long term commitment.
--Every celebration and win conveys that this organizing thing works and is worth the risk and sacrifice (given that doubt and fear are two of the biggest barriers of participation, this is priceless).
Telling our story. Yes!....I'll remember that: Speaking of that, a few of workers us got together in So. Cal. three years ago and began organizing our Santa Monica, LA, San Bernardino Community offices of the Community Mental Health Center, Step Up....we lost the first time--and won the second vote on management irregularities. We're part of SEIU721, now! And we're bargaining on our first contract as we speak....
Couldn't agree more! When I was at POWER and we led the work to pass the minimum wage ballot measure in 2014, we took moments (some long, some short) to celebrate in almost every gathering of members/potential members we had for at least the next 12 months. We made paper "checks" that listed the total economic value of the ballot win for airport workers, and gave them out to our members who worked on the campaign.
In addition to all of your points, over my career I've learned celebrating is important for the following reasons:
--Organizations who are viewed as “winners” are more magnetizing (people, money, media attention), and celebrating conveys that message.
--We’re emotional beings and the feelings that come from celebration are obviously positive. If members are associating those feelings with the experience of belonging to our organization it might increase their long term commitment.
--Every celebration and win conveys that this organizing thing works and is worth the risk and sacrifice (given that doubt and fear are two of the biggest barriers of participation, this is priceless).